Caring for Your Environment and Personal Wellbeing

Feeling connected to nature and taking part in caring for local environments is associated with greater wellbeing.

Beta content. Evidence for this dimension is still developing; grade is conservative and will be upgraded as more research is reviewed.

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Preliminary research suggests…

Evidence links stronger nature connectedness, and noticing/engaging with local nature, to higher wellbeing. Studies are mostly short-term or cross-sectional and focus on personal connection rather than large-scale sustainability outcomes. Graded C; scope here is the personal nature-connection link, not policy or activism.

Regular, attentive engagement with nearby nature foundational home garden, neighborhood, local nature

improve_wellbeingstrengthen_nature_connectionincrease_meaninggeneral_adultsurban_residents

Common misconceptions

Only big activism counts, noticing and small local care are associated with wellbeing
Nature connection is a fixed trait, it can be actively increased

What we won't claim

Sustainability behavior cures mental illness
Environmental action guarantees happiness

Key sources (3), grade mix A:2 · B:1 · C:0

Every source below carries its own grade and links to the original study. This is the audit trail.

AD. Sheffield, Carly W. Butler, M. Richardson (2022) · Sustainability · 10.3390/su141912494

AA. Pritchard, M. Richardson, D. Sheffield, K. McEwan (2019) · Journal of Happiness Studies · 10.1007/s10902-019-00118-6

BBethany Harries, L. S. Chalmin-Pui, B. Gatersleben, A. Griffiths, Eleanor Ratcliffe (2025) · People and Nature · 10.1002/pan3.70113

✓Explore all 401 studies in Environmental →

The full evidence base this focus area draws on, every study with its grade and DOI.